He or she can work with you to get a step closer to obtaining citizenship and realizing the American dream. If you are looking to bring family or close friends to the U.S. too, your immigration lawyer can help with that.

When looking to settle in the U.S., keep a few things in mind:

Location – What area of the country would be your preference to settle in? If you have been to the country before, did one area stand out to you? For many coming to the U.S., weather and job opportunities can often be two of the biggest influences. Of course where family may be here will also play a big role.

Jobs – Since you’re going to need to work once settled here, look ahead of time to see where the economy is doing its best. The last thing you want to do is end up in an area where jobs are scarce and the cost of living is on the high side.

Cost of living – In talking cost of living, do research on which areas of the country tend to be the most expensive. Starting over in a new land can be hard enough. If you throw in expenses that you can’t handle, it will make things all the more difficult.

Chances to grow – Whether jobs or making more money, look to opportunity for added growth. This can help get you through some tough times when you know brighter days may well be ahead.